<Help Me!>
I wasn’t too keen to read this book initially because the cover just screams chick lit even though it’s about a British journalist writing about how she applied the lessons found in 12 self-help books. But towards the end, I was reading this book during my lunch time. So absorbed in Marianne Power’s (mis)adventures I was.
At first, I thought the strength of her book lies in her book choices. I was quite enthralled by her journey of self-discovery as she read “Money, a Love Story” in February. But instead of sustaining her momentum and forming good money habits, she went the other way in March via “The Secret”, a book that promises you the Universe if you desire something badly enough. So rather than reduce debt, she wrote a blank cheque to herself, trusting that the law of attraction would work in her favour.
Hence, the fun in reading this book arose from the way she had to adapt her psyche accordingly as she transitioned from one book to another. But it turned out to be more than fun. Along the way, Marianne lost her mind due to such intense self-scrutiny. We’re talking about nightmares in which she imagined she’d killed people or committed suicide. She was in a deep funk, which made for compelling reading because 1) I’m incredulous at how she fell entirely apart as a result of a few self-helps books, 2) I wanted ro know how she pulled herself out of such toxic negative self-talk.
Like a story mountain, there’s a resolution in her narrative. She joined an event which required her to express her deepest, darkest thoughts in front of strangers. After exposing herself emotionally naked, she felt connected to her fellow participants and accepted. Thus began her recovery. It reminds me of “Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope”. We’re wired to find our tribe.
Yet her plight never comes across as depressing because her self-deprecating humour shines through in her hilarious descriptions. Case in point: “Jesus Christ, could I not get through a single day without crying in public?” I nearly burst out laughing at this line. I’m left in awe at how some people treat humour and depression as both sides of the same coin.
